In the middle of relentless hate and negativity, Yashica Dutt's identity — from Dalitness to queerness — has been peeled bare in the public eye. The controversy is now one big intersectional khichdi.
Academic and filmmaker Vikrant Kishore wants to bring about a change by raising awareness about caste-based discrimination in cinema. But all he sees is Bollywood.
Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956, with lakhs of his Dalit followers. But not before laying the foundation of Buddhism, its customs and rituals, for the converts.
Dalit creative diaspora must contend with coerced aesthetic labour to survive in the media and entertainment industry. Unfortunately, their struggle finds no room or narrative support.
The praise heaped on the Amazon Prime show for showing an Ambedkarite-Buddhist wedding is offset by the critique of showing the only visibly Muslim wedding as a polygamous one.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
COMMENTS